We bet you forgot a Lord of the Rings game released last year, didn't you? If you're a PC or Xbox gamer, then it's easy to see why you might have easily forgotten about The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria, as it wasn't available on either of those platforms. Well, sort of anyway, since it was available on the Epic Games Store. But this month, Return to Moria will be coming to both Xbox and Steam, along with cross-platform play.
News in brief
- Lord of the Rings game will arrive on Xbox and Steam later this month
- Was previously available on the Epic Games Store and Playstation
- Also introduces cross-platform play
The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria wasn't exactly a massive hit when it came out, despite a decent amount of hype surrounding the concept. The game follows a group of dwarfs as they attempt to retake Moria, the lost mine from Tolkien's famous Lord of the Rings novels. A survival game, the idea that you could play a sought dwarf exploring the ancient halls of the mine, fighting goblins and gathering resources to survive and rebuild was one that capturing the imaginations of many. Unfortunately, the game proved to be a little disappointing, with bare game mechanics that struggled to keep players interested.
It's also possible the decision to launch the game initially on PC on only the Epic Games Store was part of the reason it struggled. Anyone in the PC scene knows Steam holds a stranglehold on the market, and not being on that massive market is a huge handicap for any game. It later came to the PlayStation, but lacking footholds in the Xbox space it was clear it would continue to struggle.
It's hopeful now that Return to Moria will find more of an audience when it comes to both Xbox and Steam players later this month, but only time will tell in that regard.
